Are New Year’s celebrations objectionable for Christians? (ritual, morals)

[t3gah]

Originally Posted by From Wikipedia.org

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Eve)
New Year's Eve - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

New Year's Eve is a celebration held the day before New Year's Day, on December 31, the final day of the year. (See New Year for a discussion of the calendric, religious, and cultural observance of a change of year.)

New Year's Eve is a separate observance from the observance of New Year's Day. In 20th century Western practice, the celebration involves partying until the moment of the transition of the year, generally at local midnight. Drinking champagne is also a major part....

(1 Peter 4:3, 4)
3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;


(Galatians 5:19-21)
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Is New Year's Eve ok for Christians?

[Holly]

This Christian has absolutely no problem with celebrating New Years celebrations. Remember, you can celebrate and still maintain your Christian morals. A New Years celebration doesn't have to be full of revelry, lust, and other things that the verses you mentioned say. Also consider this verse:

(NIV) Romans 14:5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

In my opinion, this verse is basically saying that whether or not you celebrate a specific holiday is a matter of personal preference or personal conscience.

God Bless,
Holly

[Scuba Pete]

Colossians 2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

'Nuf said.

[Holly]

Originally Posted by NetDoc

Colossians 2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

'Nuf said.

That is a very good selection of verses. I especially like the first with is 2 Colossians 2:16.

(NIV) Colossians 2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

Good post! I was thinking about this verse when I first made my post but couldn't remember it at the time.

[No*s]

Well said ND. There's another we agree on.

[Feathers in Hair]

NetDoc, if I had continued to think that there was any point in responding directly to any of these posts, I would be using that verse in every single reply.

[Scuba Pete]

I seem to be quoting it a lot lately.

[Melody]

Originally Posted by t3gah

According to The World Book Encyclopedia, “The Roman ruler Julius Caesar established January 1 as New Year’s Day in 46 B.C. The Romans dedicated this day to Janus, God of Gates, Doors, and Beginnings. The month of January was named after Janus, who had two faces—one looking forward and the other looking backward.”—(1984), Vol. 14, p. 237.

Both the date and the customs associated with New Year’s celebrations vary from one country to another. In many places revelry and drinking are part of the festivities. However, Romans 13:13 counsels: “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.” (See also 1 Peter 4:3, 4; Galatians 5:19-21.)

(1 Peter 4:3, 4)
For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;


(Galatians 5:19-21)
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

T3...you're doing this deliberately to get a rise out of people, aren't you?

[Fluffy]

Well compared to your other posts t3gah, I like this one so Ill offer my view in response to it. Aren't all the "sins" you are listing in those passages immoral at ALL times. They aren't being applied to this specific time of year and, although it is true that perhaps some of these happen more in New Years celebrations, it is perhaps irrelevant to attach this moral code to a particular time of year.

[t3gah]

Originally Posted by Fluffy

Aren't all the "sins" you are listing in those passages immoral at ALL times. They aren't being applied to this specific time of year and, although it is true that perhaps some of these happen more in New Years celebrations, it is perhaps irrelevant to attach this moral code to a particular time of year.

Yeppers.